DON'T OWN EMMERDALE OR IT'S CHARACTERS...ITV'S PROPERTY

Chapter 14/15

XXX

6am

"Look at you...lying there all dead...don't matter about me, does it? Yeah, I'll be alright...I don't need you and your love...it just makes me weak...look at me, girl...look at the state of me, I've scarred my body because of you...but you just leave me, why don't you..."

Ross nearly choked on the hurt he felt. The emotions running fast like the hot tears down his cheeks.

"WHY did you do it...why did you make me fall in love with you...I didn't want that...you get to lie there and escape all the crap that comes after...it'll be me they blame...it'll be me they hate...blame Ross...he don't have feelings...scumbags like me don't, do they?"

Donna was on the bed lying there pale as a sheet. Ross, who was standing at the window went over and sat near her head on the pillow and looked down at her.

"just for you...I was like this just for you, girl...but no more...no more Mr nice guy..", he clenched his fist and his eyes grew cold, "...Mr nice guy's gone...he's LONG gone..."

XXX

7am

Marlon looked at the clock in the kitchen. 7 Oclock. He picked up the brew and went up the stairs. Laurel was hot on his tail, "Marlon? What are you doing?", she hissed after him.

Marlon looked back to her, "just made a brew for Donna...I'm taking it up for her"

Laurel shook her head, "I can see that, but don't forget she's got Ross in there...don't you think you should make him one as well?"

Marlon rolled his eyes at her, "What is this...room service? Oh well, I'd expect he'll want that too in all"

"Marlon..."

"I know I know..one sugar was it...he's lucky it's not arsenic"

Laurel watched him go back down the stairs and shook her head. He had tossed and turned all night during the storm, and she knew that he was thinking about her. It was always about her...

XXX

Ross was running across the field. He made himself go faster and faster till his chest hurt him because it was burning.

He was gasping for breath as the tears rolled down his cheeks and he looked back down to the village with his hands on his head, then he broke down to his knees.

Never again was he going to be allowed to feel this pain...never allowed would he have someone trap him like she did.

"NEVER AGAIN!, he raged out.

XXX

7.20am

Marlon was gently tapping on the bedroom door, "Donna? I've got a brew out here for you and...him...Ross...Donna?"

He frowned, then put the teas down on the landing, and put his hand to the handle and opened the door, "Donna...?"

Donna was lying on the bed. She was looking peaceful in her lacy nightdress. She was so pale.

Marlon swallowed down and then a hand went to his mouth in shock.

"No...not now...not now Donna..."

He sat on the bed and cradled her head, "Donna...", and then the tears started to fall.

Laurel was at the base of the stairs, she looked up and heard what sounded like was crying.

"Marlon?", she went up the steps and went into Donna's bedroom. Marlon was rocking Donna where she laid on the bed, he was sobbing his heart out.

Laurel put a hand to her mouth, "Ohhh Marlon...", she whispered.

XXX

Bob was on the phone. Brenda served another customer and turned as he gently ended his call.

"Love? What is it"

Bob was hesitant, "That was...that was Laurel...it's...it's Donna"

Brenda could see by the painful expression on his face what had occured. Donna had died.

"Love...I'm so sorry"

Bob was faffing, "Errrm...I've got to get over there...would you mind holding the fort"

"Of course YOU go..."

Brenda put her hands together and watched Bob grab his jacket and was out the door.

XXX

Laurel put her mobile down and turned to see Marlon still clinging to Donna in the bedroom, "Marlon...come along now...leave her...she looks at peace"

Marlon was focused only on Donna's pale face, "I can't believe she is gone..."

Laurel bit her lip, this is ging to be harder than she thought, "I've called Bob...he's on his way round"

Marlon didn't look up at her, "look at her...she's only 29 she's too young to die...it's not right...she has a little girl...WE have a little girl"

Laurel was looking about the room, then realised something, "Where's Ross?"

This did get Marlon's attention, he looked up at her, "Who cares..."

Then, in one swift stroke, he grabbed the necklace Ross had bought her off Donna's neck and threw it into the bin, "... that can come off for a start!"

Laurel looked horrified, "Marlon..."

Marlon stared at her, "She was MY ex-Wife...HE has NOTHING to do with her, do you hear me...he's NOTHING to her!"

Laurel tried to get through to him, "they were lovers Marlon...they..."

"I don't care!"

There was a call downstairs, Laurel turned, "Bob's here..."

XXX

8.10am

At Debbie place, Debbie was getting the kids ready for school, "Come on kids"

Pete was getting their coats on, "I'll finish off getting them ready if you want"

"Why"

"When I move in with yah, I'll be doing it all the time, won't I?"

Debbie looked at Pete, "We still have to talk about that..."

Pete turned and saw the rolled up sleeping bag in the corner, "I see our Ross didn't stop here last night"

Debbie looked at the sleeping bag and shrugged, "he must have stayed around Donna's I suppose"

Pete pulled his jacket on and chuckled, "Is it REALLY love with him? I still find it hard to believe...I know dad said it was all serious..."

Debbie sadly smiled at her, "I know how he feels believe me...he's mad for her...and god knows he's going to need all of us when she dies..."

XXX

Bob was in the living room with his hands together, he turned to Laurel who came out from the kitchen, "doctors up there...", he said braving a smile.

April was looking all bewildered and confused on the sofa next to him, "Where's Mummy?"

Laurel and Bob glanced at one another, then she forced on a smile and looked at April, "Would you like to go to the café for your breakfast today for a special treat?"

April smiled at her, "Is Mummy going to be there with Ross..."

Bob grabbed the youngsters coat and held it out for her to put her arms in, "Come on love...lets get you ready sweetheart..."

Just as they were out the door, Laurel turned and saw the doctor come down the stairs with Marlon in tow, " Seeing she was under the hospital there shouldn't be a need for a post-mortem"

"Thank you doctor..."

XXX

10.30pm

Debbie came out of the village shop and saw Ross stroll her the road with a bottle of whiskey in his grasp.

"Ross? What is it...?"

Ross looked at her, "Don't you start mithering me and that I should be at work because you can go stuff your job!"

Debbie pulled a face, "Ross? Don't you think it's a bit too early for that...", she nodded towards the bottle in his hand.

Ross laughed at her nastily, "Oh you just love it don't yah...Pete's little bitch...pity he can never give you what you crave for...excitement"

Debbie knew that something was up, "Has something happened...is it Donna?"

"Who?"

And then he walked off. Debbie instantly got her phone out of her pocket and pressed call, "Laurel it's Debbie...has there something happened? What...you're joking...I'm so sorry..."

She looked up to see Ross disappear from view.

XXX

At the café, Brenda gave April an ice cream, "There you go lovey...it's a bit naughty but chocolate ice cream for breakfast!"

April's eyes feasted onto the bowl, "thank you"

Brenda ruffled her hair and turned to Bob discretely, "Have you phoned the undertakers...the ones we used for our Gennie were ever so good"

"Who's Gennie...", asked April looking up.

Brenda and Bob looked at one another and turned to April, "Love...there's something we need to talk to you about..."

XXX

Ross stood by the bridge with his hood up, he stared at Tall trees cottages and saw the black van pull up.

He turned his head and put his mobile to his ear, "It's me...you said you had a job, yeah i know what I said...but things are different now... I'm up for it..."

XXX

Laurel looked out the window and then called up the stairs, "Marlon...the undertakers are here"

Marlon was at the top of the stairs and looked down to her, "I don't want them to take her"

Laurel tried to be understanding, "You have to let her go"

Marlon screwed his face up in pain as the understakers came in through the door. Laurel turned and cleared her throat, "I will show you the way", she said.

Marlon in stunned silence turned and watched them walk up the stairs. The men in black.

He closed his eyes and sobbed in silence.

XXX

Debbie watched from the gate as the undertakers stretched Donna's body into the back of the private ambulance.

She swallowed. Ross. What was going through Ross's mind.

She backed away and hurried back to the village.

XXX

At the parade of shops in town, the girl parked her car and reached over to the back seat and grabbed her handbag. Suddenly all of a sudden, the passenger door opened and Ross jumped in the seat and stared at her through his ski mask and hood, "GIVE ME THE KEYS...!"

The girl was petrified. The stone cold fear on her face. She froze.

"GIVE US THE KEYS NOW YOU STUPID BITCH OR I'LL MAKE YAH!"

The girl went to struggle out when Ross grabbed her arm, then squeezed his hand around her neck ready to throttle her, "YOU FUCKING STUPID COW! GIVE US THE KEYS NOW!"

The girl stared back at Ross's dark eyes. Cold...evil...dark...and gave him the keys...

The girl was pushed out as he drove off in her car, shaken and frightened to death, she stood up to call the police.

Up the road, Ross hit the brakes and he screeched to a stop. Another car came to his side.

"Nice car- jacking...Welcome back badlad...where you been all this time?"

Ross met his gaze coldly, "It doesn't matter...I'm back..."

"Blimey...you are in a darker mood than usual pal", they swapped cars and the other guy stuck a bunch of rolled up notes Ross's way.

Pocketing the roll of readies, Ross got into the other car and glared at him, "yeah...and that's how it's gonna stay..."

"Well the coppers will be around in mo...we best get the hell out of here...call you soon"

Ross watched him speed off, Ross started the engine and then looked at his phone, there was a picture of Donna on the screen saver. She was smiling back at him.

In anger and rage, he smashed the phone up over the steeling wheel and then chucked it to the floor.

Sirens in the foreground, he sobbed uncontrollably and awaited his fate...

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Hope it's not too sad...one chapter and epilogue left.

These will tie up Donna's story and resolve Ross's issues.